Pope axes Keating and Simply Red

-04/09/06

Ronan Keating and Simply Red appear to have


Pope axes Keating and Simply Red

-04/09/06

Ronan Keating and Simply Red appear to have been axed by the Pope, with Benedict XVI cancelling the Vatican’s traditional Christmas concert this year.

Insiders say it is because he doesn’t like pop music, keen to deny it had anything to do with the individual acts selected to play.

Ronan Keating and Simply Red were due to appear at the fundraising gig this December.

The Yuletide gig has been held at the Vatican every year since 1993. The event originated under John Paul II and the late Pope either granted an audience with the performers or prepared a video-taped message.

But the present Pope has now deemed the event unsuitable for the surroundings, and the concert will now be held in Monte Carlo.

An insider said, “The officials reasons is that it has run its course but the Pope is not a fan of popular music.”

The Pontiff is said to prefer Mozart and Bach.

“Pope Ratzinger prefers Mozart and Bach to ‘pop’ music and thus, after 12 years, the traditional Vatican Christmas concert comes to an end,” the Italian daily La Stampa said according to an Agence France-Presse report.
Benedict XVI was not present at last yearís event.

“It is impossible not to notice a change under the new pontiff,” the ANSA news agency said.

“Benedict XVI is a very sober Pope and is not inclined toward variety shows. He is more concerned about leading the faith of Catholics to its spiritual essence.”

La Stampa also suggested that the Popeís reluctance to continue the Christmas concert is not only down to his preference for classical music, but also a desire to avoid a series of small scandals that have plagued the event.

Last year, Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury’s show was cancelled by the Vatican because she had taken part in a public service campaign in Brazil promoting the use of condoms.

And in 2003, the American singer Lauryn Hill, ex-leader of the Fugees, suggested during her concert that the Church ask forgiveness for crimes committed in the United States by pedophile priests.

Her statement was cut from the televised version of the concert.


Pope axes Keating and Simply Red

-04/09/06

Ronan Keating and Simply Red appear to have been axed by the Pope, with Benedict XVI cancelling the Vatican’s traditional Christmas concert this year.

Insiders say it is because he doesn’t like pop music, keen to deny it had anything to do with the individual acts selected to play.

Ronan Keating and Simply Red were due to appear at the fundraising gig this December.

The Yuletide gig has been held at the Vatican every year since 1993. The event originated under John Paul II and the late Pope either granted an audience with the performers or prepared a video-taped message.

But the present Pope has now deemed the event unsuitable for the surroundings, and the concert will now be held in Monte Carlo.

An insider said, “The officials reasons is that it has run its course but the Pope is not a fan of popular music.”

The Pontiff is said to prefer Mozart and Bach.

“Pope Ratzinger prefers Mozart and Bach to ‘pop’ music and thus, after 12 years, the traditional Vatican Christmas concert comes to an end,” the Italian daily La Stampa said according to an Agence France-Presse report.
Benedict XVI was not present at last yearís event.

“It is impossible not to notice a change under the new pontiff,” the ANSA news agency said.

“Benedict XVI is a very sober Pope and is not inclined toward variety shows. He is more concerned about leading the faith of Catholics to its spiritual essence.”

La Stampa also suggested that the Popeís reluctance to continue the Christmas concert is not only down to his preference for classical music, but also a desire to avoid a series of small scandals that have plagued the event.

Last year, Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury’s show was cancelled by the Vatican because she had taken part in a public service campaign in Brazil promoting the use of condoms.

And in 2003, the American singer Lauryn Hill, ex-leader of the Fugees, suggested during her concert that the Church ask forgiveness for crimes committed in the United States by pedophile priests.

Her statement was cut from the televised version of the concert.